Vacuum breaker



UCL 26, 1943 l J. J. cANToR 2,332,695

VACUUM BREAKER Filed June 2l, 1941 A rro/a/VEY Patented Oct. 26,- 1943UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUM BREAKER Jacob J. Cantor, Los Angeles,Calif. Application June 21, 1941, Serial No. 399,163

Claims.

This application is continuation in part of my pending applicationSerial #287,033, flied July 28, 1939, for Vacuum breaker device, andsince issued as Patent No. 2,252,164, dated August l2, 1941.

In vacuum breakers as heretofore developed, involving a float member forclosing the atmospheric opening, there is a, tendency for float memberswhich contain coniined air to become waterlogged or distorted, becauseof the stresses developed by the pressure changes of the confined airunder changing temperature conditions. Attempts to remedy this by theprovision of an opening in tie float to permit water to rise in theiioat member, and trap air in the upper part of the oat, have not beensuccessful, because the water surging through the ap'- paratus has atendency to sweep out the air; or, possibly, the air, may beabsorbed bythe water.

The above mentioned distortion or loss of buoyancy of the float causesthe device to leak through the atmospheric valve, as the tightness ofthe atmospheric valve depends upon the accurate seating of the valvemember, which valve member is/actuated by the float member.

In addition to the above defects, there is a tendency for theatmospheric valve to adhere to its seat, after the valve and seat havebeen in contact for a long period of time. Such long continued contactalso causes ridges in the valve or seat, or actually cuts the seat,causing ultimate leakage. These tendencies have prevented theapplication of vacuum breakers'in` any situation where there is a valveat the outlet side of the vacuum breaker, and, consequently, a vacuumbreaker is required for every valve or faucet.

With the above defects of previous vacuum breakers in mind, it is anobject of the present invention to provide a novel means for theprevention of the development of stresses in the float due totemperature changes acting upon air therewithin.

It is a further object of the present invention to prevent theaccumulation of condensed moisture within the iloat member.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means forpreventing marring of the mating faces of the atmospheric valve andvalve seat.

4It is a further object of the present invention to provide means toavoid leakage at the atmospheric valve when the system is at lowpressure and the valve member is vibrated by changt direction,

ing water currents, pressure.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, in anatmospheric valve involving a movable valve seat, means for preventionof adhesion between the valve seat and its motion limiting member.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means forpermitting atmospheric pressure, upon development of a vacuum in thesystem, to break any seal which may have formed between the atmosphericvalve and its seat.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means whichwill indicate development of a leak in the oat.

It is a further object of the present invention to furnish a means totest the device to indicate its correct functioning.

turbulence, or pulsations This invention possesses many otheradvantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparentfrom a consideration of one or more embodiments of the invention. Forthis purpose there are shown a number of forms in the drawingaccompanying and forming part of the present specication. These formswill now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles ofthe invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed descriptionis not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the inventionis best defined by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through one type of vacuum breakerembodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are fragmentary sections similar to the upper portionof Figure 1, showing the parts in different positions of operation;

Figure 6 is a section similar to Figure 1, of a modied form of theinvention; and

Figure 7 is a similar section of still another form of the invention.

opensa valve to the atmosphere, and closes the inlet to prevent reverseflow. As shown, the body member l0 is provided with an inlet Il and anoutlet I2, liquid being intended to ow through the chamber I3 in itspassage from the inlet to the outlet. Within this chamber I3 is provideda fioat member I4, which performs the functions of sealing anatmospheric opening and closing the inlet, according to its position.The float member is a hollow body of sufficient rigidity to withstandthe crushing pressure of the fluid within the chamber I3, and is shownasbeingessentially a cylindrical member, provided with softA heads I6and I1, at its top and bottom respective- 1y. These heads may be made ofrubber or similar material, vulcanized or cemented in place. andprovided in their interiors with stiffening washers I8 and I9. Theyserve as closures for the ends of the float and also function as valvemembers.

As shown in Figure l, the lower head I1 rests on a valve seat 2n whenthere is no fluid in the chamber, thus effectively closing the inlet IIagainst reverse flow. The upper head I6 of the float member I4, inconjunction with a special seat, acts as an atmospheric valve. This seatis in the form of a flexible diaphragm 20, formed of rubber or similarmaterial, having an opening 2I in the center thereof. The diaphragm 20is vulcanized, or otherwise suitably secured, to a ring 22, which has anannular groove 23 therein -to allow the rubber to be moreA securelyfastened to the ring. For the sake of convenience, the rubber may extendover the bottom of the ring 22, as at 24, to provide a gasket forpreventing leakage between the ring and the upper end of the body memberI0. The ring and diaphragm assembly are secured to the top of the body Iby a cap 25, threaded to the body member, the top of said cap having aseries of openings 26 extending therethrough for the passage of air.

As will be noted from Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5, the flexible diaphragm 2U,the cap 25, and the end I6 of *the float member I4 are so related as toform an atmospheric valve. An annular member 21, of resilientconstruction, is secured to the end IB of the float and is adapted toengage the diaphragm 20. Under low pressures, the diaphragm and theannular member 21 engage as shown in Figure 3, the diaphragm and member21 yielding slightly under pulsations, vibration or rocking of the floatmember I4. However, when the pressure increases, it forces the float anddiaphragm upwardly, the limiting position being that shown in Figure 4.-In this position it will be observed that the annular member 21 is bentdownwardly,

so that a very large area is presented to the diaphragm. This preventsthe diaphragm from being cut or ridged if it remains in this positionfor a long period under high pressure.

In order to prevent the diaphragm from adhering to the cap 25, thediaphragm is provided with a roughened upper surface; which may beformed by projections 28, or by any other suitable means. If desired,the interior of the cap may be roughened instead of the diaphragm. Thisroughening results in the entrapping of small volumes of air between thesurface of the cap and of the diaphragm, and thus prevents the'adhesionof the diaphragm to the cap. It will be noted that the openings 26 arelocated at points where lthe diaphragm touches the cap, and the uppersurface of the diaphragm is in communication with the atmosphere even inthe position shown in Figure 4, so that air pressure will act upon it toforce it downwardly upon development of a vacuum in the system.

There is a possibility that the inner surface of the diaphragm 20 andthe resilient valve memy pin passes through an opening 30 in' a ber 21,may adhere to each other. But, as shown in Figure 5, the development ofa vacuum in the system will result in a stretching of the diaphragm 20and a consequent enlargement of the opening 2I, which will tear it loosefrom the valve. It is thus seen that there is no opportunity for theatmospheric valve to stick closed, which would destroy the effectivenessof the device. v

In order to guide the float I4 in its vertical travel, a pin 29 issecured to its lower end, which guide member 3I secured to the bodymember I0. The upper end of the float is guided byv a pin 32, secured tothe cap 25, and passing f through an opening 33 in a guide member 34 inthe float itself. These guide pins are comparatively quite loose in theguide openings 30 and 33, as the flexible diaphragm 20 is of suchconstruction that it does not depend upon the accurate positioning ofthe float for its efficacy. l

The opening 33 in the guide member 34 also serves to prevent thedevelopment of pressure changes Withiny the float I4, as it is incommunication with the atmosphere. However, air breathing in and out ofthe float interior would result in condensation of moisture in thefloat, causing it to lose its buoyancy. For this reason, a tube 35,within the float member, prevents communication between the atmosphereand the interior of the float except through an opening 36 near thebottom of the float. Any condensation forming in the float will bedriven up the tube 35 upon expansion of the air in the float chamber dueto rise in temperature. This tube 35 also serves to prevent the floatfrom losing its buoyancy in the event that a leak develops in the Wallsof the float. Any water entering the float will rise in the tube, andappear at the atmospheric valve, giving warning that the unit is in needoi attention.

In order to provide means for periodical testing of the device, to giveassurance that a vacuum will be broken, a pair of openings 31 and 38 areprovided in the body member ID, the opening 31 being vthrough the wallof the oat chamber I3, and the opening 38 being in the wall of the inletI I. By connecting these openings with a vacuum pump or other mechanism,and observing the action of the device, it can be readily determinedwhether it is functioning correctly. When these openings are not beingused for testing, they can be closed by suitable plugs 39 and 40.

A second form of this invention is shown in Figure 6. The maindifference to be noted in this form, as distinguished from that of thepreviiously described form, is the utilization of an extension of theinterior tube 4I of the oat 42 to guide the float in its verticalmovement. In order to accomplish this, the cap 43 is formed with acentral opening 44 for guiding the tube 4I in its vertical movement withthe float 42, and a member 45 is formed thereon to protect the movingtube from mechanical injury. The rest of the structure may be exactly asdescribed in connection with Figure 1, and will not be furtherdescribed.

In Figure 7 is shown still another form of the invention, which is chieynotable because of the form of the diaphragm utilized for the valve seatA body member 50 has an inlet 5I and an outlet 52 leading to and fromthe float chamber 53. A oat member 54 within the chamber is guided forvertical movement by the tube 55 secured to the float and passingthrough guides 56 and 51.

This tube also serves to remove condensation from the interior of thefloat through a small opening 58 through its wall near the bottom of theiioat 54. The float 54 has valve members at each end, the lower member59, engaging a seat 60 upon downward movement of the float and 'stoppingreverse flow. The upper valve element 6l engages a diaphragm 62 to closethe atmospheric opening.

This diaphragm 62 is cup-shaped in configuration, and is supported onthe body member 50 by a ring 63 held in place by a flanged, threadedsleeve, 64, which also secures the cap 65 in place. It will be notedthat the cap is similarly cupshaped. The central opening 66 of thediaphragm is provided with an annular projection 61, which is engaged bythe valve member 6I, and cooperates therewith to form a seal.

It will be understood that at low pressure, the oat 54 will rise, if thechamber 53 contains liquid, until it assumes the position shown inFigure 7 in full lines. HighV pressure will tend to force the diaphragminto contact with the cap 65. For this reason, the exterior of thediaphragm 62 may be roughened as at 62a to prevent it; from adhering tothe interior of the cap 65.

Downward movement of the iioat member nor- `mally opens the atmosphericvalve by causing the member 6l to leave the annular projection 61.However, in the event that the member 6I and the diaphragm adhere toeach other, the diaphragm will be inverted by the pressure of theatmosphere, to take the position B vshown in dotted lines in the figure.This inversion causes the projection 61 to roll over the valve, whichwill tend to loosen it. In the event that it does not do so, the outsidepressure will distort the dlaphragm to the position C,v which will exerta tension on the diaphragm, and tend to increase the size of the opening66. This will tear the projection 61 of the diaphragm loose from thevalve member 6 l, and admit air into the chamber 53.

I claim:

1. A vacuum breaker including a' housing having a liquid inlet andoutlet and an atmospheric inlet; a valve seat at said atmospheric inlet;a hollow oat valve member movable by the rise of liquid in said housinginto sealing contact with the valve seat; and an opening in said oatvalve member in communication with the atmosphere through the opening ofthe valve seat when said valve member is in closed position.

2. A vacuum breaker including a housing having a liquid inlet and outletand an atmospheric inlet; a valve seat at said atmospheric inlet; ahollow oat valve member movable by the rise of liquid in said housinginto sealing contact with the valve seat; a-tube extending to theinterior of the float and open to the interior of the oat near thebottom thereof, said tube being in communication with the atmospherethrough the valve seat when said valve member is in closed position.

3. A vacuum breaker including a housing having a liquid inlet and outletand an atmospheric inlet; a valve seat at said atmospheric inlet; a.hollow oat valve member movable by the rise oi liquid in said housinginto sealing contact with the valve seat; a tube extending to theinterior of the float and open to the interior of the oat near thebottom thereof, said tube being in communication with the atmospherethrough the opening of the valve seat; and a pin secured to the housingextending into said tube to thereby guide the iioat in its movement.

4. A vacuum breaker including a housing having a liquid inlet and outletand an atmospheric inlet; a cup shaped flexible member forming a valveseat and secured tosald housing by its out' periphery; a oat valve insaid housing movable by the rise of liquid in said housing into sealingcontact with the valve seat; the extent of travel of said float valvebeing such as to permit inversion of the flexible member in the eventthat the valve seat adheres to and follows the oat valve in its downwardmovement.

5. A vacuum breaker including a housing having a liquid inlet and outletand an atmospheric inlet; a cup shaped exible member secured to saidhousing by its outer periphery, said member having a projecting ringportion forming a valve seat; a valve member in said housing movable bythe rise of liquid in said housing into sealing contact with said valveseat; the extent of travel of said valve member being such as to permitin- Version of the iiexible member in the event that the valve seatadheres to and follows the valve member in its downward movement.

JACOB J. CANTOR.

